School redistricting decision Tuesday

STAMFORD -- After 12 months of uncertainty, the board of education has determined when it will make its decision about the future structure of the schools.

On Tuesday, July 29, the board will vote on whether to close Toquam or Rogers elementary school, when all nine board members will be present.

In order to vote on decision of this magnitude, all members must be at the meeting, said Richard Freedman, the board's president.

Board member Susan Nabel was absent from Tuesday night's meeting when the presentation of Rogers Working Group was given.

Thano Chaltas, the Rogers PTO representative, presented the two scenarios for closing Rogers school and transitioning students and staff to the Environmental Magnet School (EMS) in 2009-'10. The board of education overwhelmingly preferred the first scenario, labeled as the K-5 Model.

"With this scenario you have more magnet schools seats and more students walking to school, which the board prefers," said Chaltas.

In the K-5 Model, EMS would open as a K-5 school and present 540 K-5 seats. By the academic year of 2013-'14, the transition would be complete.

In the second scenario, EMS would open as a K-6. Grades 2-6 would consist of current Rogers students, who would stay through eighth grade. The K-8 transition would be finally complete in 2016-17.

"I don't have a vote," said Chaltas. "But for me this is an easy decision." Chaltas is in favor of the K-5 scenario, which he says has the support of most parents and staff. The first scenario also keeps Toquam, labeled a high performing elementary school intact, and rids the $10-15 million Rogers capital costs required to keep the building up to code.

EMS has a capacity of 720 students, the report said. Across both scenarios, EMS will consist of 36 classrooms with 20 students per classroom. The magnet school will seek a goal of 25 percent attendance from students outside the Stamford district. The report noted that almost all interdistrict magnet schools are not meeting that goal yet continue to receive state funding. Of the 25 percent, 80 percent are expected to be what are known as advantaged students, while 20 percent disadvantaged.

EMS will also be striving to incorporate more minority students within the Stamford's districts into its programs by meeting a 50/50 goal.